Global Box Office: 'Transformers 4' Becomes First Film of 2014 to Near $1 Billion

"Transformers: Age of Extinction" has now earned more than the first two films in Paramount's toy-to-film franchise; "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" begins to roll out in earnest now that the World Cup is over.

Beginning its post-World Cup assault, sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes narrowly beat Transformers: Age of Extinction to win the global weekend race with $97 million for an early global cume of $242 million.

Age of Extinction still had plenty to brag about in its fourth weekend, becoming the first film of 2014 to cross the $800 million mark globally. The Paramount title is now all but assured of becoming a billion-dollar baby by the end of its run.

Over the weekend, the Paramount tentpole took in $91.2 million globally, pushing its total to $886.3 million, according to Rentrak. That's more than the first Transformers ($709 million) and sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen ($836 million). Threequel Transformers: Dark of the Moon earned $1.12 billion in summer 2011.

Age of Extinction opened to huge numbers in soccer-crazed markets where moviegoers were previously distracted by the now-completed World Cup, including Brazil, where it took in $16.5 million. And in Germany — winner of the soccer championship — the movie launched to $11.2 million, the biggest start of the year so far.

China continues to be the film's biggest market, ponying up a massive $285.7 million to date and making Age of Extinction the No. 1 film of all time. However, two new Chinese movies, Tiny Times 3.0 and The House That Never Dies, beat it over the weekend, grossing $30 million and $21 million, respectively, compared to $9.6 million for Age of Extinction.

Elsewhere, Lionsgate opened dance film Step Up All In in a handful of foreign markets a week ahead of its U.S. debut, including Russia ($3.1 million) and France ($2.1 million).

Below are the top 10 films at the global box office for the weekend of July 18-20, according to Rentrak.